Sikeston event to demystify fully automatic firearms

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Why would someone want a machine gun?

For one thing, they can be fun when used responsibly.

The safe recreational use of fully automatic firearms and other class 3 weaponry is the focus of the annual Jungle Walk scheduled to begin at noon today on Scott Matthews' farmland just south of Sikeston, on the south side of Highway 60 one mile east of the Highway 60/South Main Street interchange by Wal-Mart.

"They are interesting and a lot of fun. We like to take these out and demonstrate them to folks," Matthews said. "People need to understand that any weapon can be responsibly handled, and that's what we focus on: the responsible handling of exotic weapons. We really are interested in demystifying the media's version of gun ownership."

Most civilians are limited to semiautomatic firearms -- guns that fire only a single round with each press of the trigger. A fully automatic firearm, or what most people call a machine gun, will keep firing bullets when the trigger is pulled back until the trigger is released or the gun runs out of ammunition.

Fully automatic firearms manufactured or imported before 1986 are class 3 weapons that may be legally owned by private citizens.

"You have to have a special federal firearms license to own them," Matthews said. "To get this license, you have to be fingerprinted, law enforcement has to sign off, you have to have a background check -- people that own these weapons have undergone extensive background checks."

In addition to fully automated firearms, other examples of class 3 weapons include suppressed weapons (weapons with silencers) and rifles and shotguns with short barrels.

The Jungle Walk is "a machine gun competition," Matthews said. "We are shooting steel targets on a course against the clock."

It began as an annual gathering of friends and mutual associates with licenses to show each other and fire their class 3 weapons at a safe location. Word of the annual event began to spread. As the event grew, Matthews decided to open up the event to the public. There is no admission fee.

"People are welcome to come out and take a peek. We like to make our hobby demystified to the non-class 3 community," he said.

However, organizers discourage children younger than 10 and pets attending due to the loud noises.

Hearing protection is mandatory, Matthews said, and those who plan to fire weapons should also bring eye protection.

"Nobody shoots without a range officer beside them," Matthews said. "Every shooter is accompanied by a range officer at all times."